The story is based on the Dublin life during the 1940s. At this time, Ireland was still controlled by the British. Though they had been struggling for independence for a long time they had yet to gain their independence at the time the story was based on. This is the reason we see the lame drunken man, who represents the majority of Irish population who were living at borderline of poverty.
At the same time there was industrial revolution happening in Ireland. During this period, many businesses came in from outer countries. The main transport into Ireland at the time was by steamboats, which are present in the wharf when the boys arrive.
Another issue at this time was the clash between Catholics and Protestants. This religious tension is represented through the Father Butler’s chasterising. When the Father catches Leo with the Wild West magazine, he scolds how only Protestant boys like him would read such book. Joyce includes another event in the book to represent this issue at the time. This is when the two poor boys throw rocks at the narrator and Mahoney on the way to the wharf by mistaking them for Protestants.
The setting gives us readers, a great understanding of the state of Ireland. And the setting helps us readers visualize the story and the characters while we read through the story.
The story is based on the Dublin life during the 1940s. At this time, Ireland was still controlled by the British. Though they had been struggling for independence for a long time they had yet to gain their independence at the time the story was based on. This is the reason we see the lame drunken man, who represents the majority of Irish population who were living at borderline of poverty.
At the same time there was industrial revolution happening in Ireland. During this period, many businesses came in from outer countries. The main transport into Ireland at the time was by steamboats, which are present in the wharf when the boys arrive.
Another issue at this time was the clash between Catholics and Protestants. This religious tension is represented through the Father Butler’s chasterising. When the Father catches Leo with the Wild West magazine, he scolds how only Protestant boys like him would read such book. Joyce includes another event in the book to represent this issue at the time. This is when the two poor boys throw rocks at the narrator and Mahoney on the way to the wharf by mistaking them for Protestants.
The setting of the book is expressing a subliminal manner. Joyce does not take a paragraph to directly explain the setting of the story. He instead uses character’s descriptions, character’s speeches, and character’s experience to describe the state of Ireland. For example, the way the Father talks about how only Protestant boys would do such things, and how the boys get stoned when mistaken for Protestants.
The setting gives us readers, a great understanding of the state of Ireland. And the setting helps us readers visualize the story and the characters while we read through the story.